The Parish of Great Berkhamsted, St Peter’s Church

Registered Charity No. 1130108

The Second Sunday of Advent

5^th December 2010

Welcome to St Peter’s

We aim to give glory to God through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit

If you are new to the parish or this service please introduce yourself to a “welcomer” or to one of the Clergy or sidesmen.

Communicant members of all Churches are invited to receive Holy Communion. If you are not receiving Communion, please come to the Altar rail for a blessing but carry a book so the minister knows.

The Sunday School and Pathfinders are in church this morning, but there is a Crèche in the Court House from 9:30am. Children are welcome to stay in the service. There are activity bags available for children to take with them to the pews.

Tea and coffee are served in the Court House after the 9:30am service.

All are welcome.

9:30am service details Hymns, Psalm, Collect, Readings,
Post Communion Prayer will be found on the Insert.
Anthem: This is the record of John Orlando Gibbons

6:00pm service details Festival of Light and Rotary Christmas Carol Service with St Peter’s Choir

For all pastoral matters please contact
Fr Michael Bowie Rector tel. 01442 864194 email Rector@greatberkhamsted.org.uk

Day off Friday

Fr John Pritchard Assistant Curate tel. 01442 870016 email johnapritchard@hotmail.co.uk

Day off Thursday

Prayer Diary

A daily reminder to pray for the Church, Country, Parish & community in Berkhamsted.

Sunday 5^th Advent II Sick & Bereaved RIP Memorial	+Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury +Alan, Bp of St Albans, PRAY for The Lusitanian Church (E-P to the Archbishop of Canterbury) Lusitanian Church - (Portugal) Bp Fernando Soares Christina Billington, Judith Hill, Marjorie Bowden, Ron Peggs, Keith Dawson, Keith, John Marum, Edna Campkin, Tracy Robinson, Mary Swallow Kath Weaver, John Randall Ron Gregory, Muriel Norman
Monday 6^th St Nicolas Luke 5: 17-26 Sick & Bereaved	Kitale - (Kenya) Bp Stephen Nyorsok Those living with dementia School Carol Services being prepared to take place at St Peter’s Judith Hill, John Marum
Tuesday 7^th St Ambrose Matthew 18: 12-14 Sick & Bereaved	Kitgum - (Uganda) Bp Benjamin Ojwang The Mayor and Council of Berkhamsted Organ builders and tuners Christina Billington, Tracy Robinson
Wednesday 8^th IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Luke 1: 26-38 Sick & Bereaved	Kitui - (Kenya) Bp Josephat Mule The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham – Berkhamsted Ashlyns Nursing Home, Dunsland House, Kilfillan House Ron Peggs, Jamie Matthews
Thursday 9^th Matthew 11: 11-15 Sick & Bereaved	Kobe - (Japan) Bp Andrew Yutaka Nakamura Those who receive Communion at Home Fr Michael Bowie - Rector Keith, Mary Swallow
Friday 10^th Matthew 11:16-19 Sick & Bereaved	Koforidua - (West Africa) Bp Francis Quashie Those involved in medical research Shelter and DENS Keith Dawson, Marjorie Bowden
Saturday 11^th Matthew 17:10-13 Sick & Bereaved	Kolhapur - (North India) Bp Bathuel Tiwade The Church in Mexico - + Carlos Touche Porter (primate) Those considering or in the middle of IVF treatment Edna Campkin
Sunday – 12^th Dec	Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

ST PETER’S	Today Sunday 5^th December	Next week Sunday 12^th December
SIDESMEN	8:00am Liz Prosser 9:30am Carole & Geoff Dell Gwen Roberts, Sue Ruggles 6:00pm Festival of Light Christopher Green	8:00am Geoff Dell 9:30am Rosemary & Tony Byrne Polly Rafter, Anne Stead 6:00pm John Cook
INTERCESSOR	9:30am Young People	9:30am Carolina Bowie
CHALICE	9:30am Carolina Bowie, Rachael A	9:30am Carole Dell, Barbara Conway
SERVERS	8:00am Alan Conway 9:30am James Ruffell MC, Jordan Dell Cr Claire Below, Katya Khazaneh	8:00am Chris Clegg 9:30am Rachel Hill MC, Alex Evans Cr Alan Conway, David Northcott
READINGS	8:00am Mike Eller 9:30am Young People	8:00am Geoff Dell 9:30am Michael & Helen Pope
CRÈCHE	9:30am Hilary O, Kate R, Rebekah P	9:30am Zoe D, Julie W, Jenny J
SUNDAY SCH	9:30am In church	9:30am Helen with Clare / Sally
CHURCH CLEANING 6-11Dec Philippa Seldon, Janet & Michael Eller, Ruth Kemp, Haley Gerry

Websites

Our own St Peter’s site http://stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk

We are a Fairtrade Parish http://www.fairtrade.org.uk

This Week’s Church Diary

O= services where the PA Loop system is in use

SUNDAY 5^th December THE SECOND OF ADVENT	8:00am EUCHARIST O Pr: Fr John Pritchard 9:30am FAMILY EUCHARIST O Pr: The Revd Penny Nash Crèche, Sunday School & Pathfinders 5:15pm Rehearsal St Peter’s choir for 6:00pm Choir: FESTIVAL OF LIGHT & ROTARY CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE O
Monday 6^th St Nicholas	7:30am Morning Prayer 10:30am Victoria School Christmas reh.	5:30pm Evening Prayer 6:00pm EUCHARIST
Tuesday 7^th St Ambrose	7:30am Morning Prayer 9:00am Rehearsal Haresfoot Sch (12nn) 9:30am EUCHARIST, All Saints’, Shrublands Road.	5:00pm Evening Prayer 5:15pm Choir Practice (6:15pm) 6:30pm Access for 7:00pm Haresfoot Sch. Carol Service
Wednesday 8^th IMMACULATE CONCEPTION	7:30am Morning Prayer 8:00am EUCHARIST	5:00pm Evening Prayer
Thursday 9^th	7:30am Morning Prayer 12:30am EUCHARIST 5:00pm Evening Prayer	6:30pm Piano tuning & rehearsal Rainbow Ensemble 7:55pm Bellringing (9:15pm) south door
Friday 10^th	7:30am Morning Prayer 9:00am Access Victoria School for 9:15am Thomas Bourne EUCHARIST 11:00am Funeral Peter Butler	12nn Access Rainbow Ensemble for 1:00pm Recital The Rainbow Ensemble (in Lady Chapel) 5:00pm Evening Prayer 7:00pm Choir Practice (8:30pm)
Saturday 11^th	9:30am Morning Prayer 10:00am EUCHARIST 10:30am Staging & move piano 1:00pm Piano tuning (John Reader)	3:00pm Rehearsal BMS (5:00pm) 5:00pm Evening Prayer 7:30pm Front of House for 8:00pm BMS Concert: Raphael Wallfisch (’cello) & John York (piano)
SUNDAY 12^th December THE THIRD OF ADVENT	8:00am EUCHARIST O Pr: Fr Michael Bowie 9:30am SUNG EUCHARIST O Pr: Fr John Pritchard Crèche, Sunday School & Pathfinders 6:00pm EVENING PRAYER Fr John Pritchard

Other Church Activities

Sunday	Cowper Society 11:00am in the Court House. David Pearce 878809 Sundays Together Lunch 1:00pm The Court House. Elizabeth Jackson 864382
Monday	Fourth Berkhamsted Brownies 6:00-7:15pm Court House. Nicola Fulcher 878172
Tuesday	Chuckles Toddlers 10-11:30am All Saints’ with 10:15am Service Christmas Story. Jenny Wells 870981 PCC 8:00pm in the Court House
Wednesday	Julian Meeting 11:30am 1 Montague Rd. Half hour of quiet prayer. Ruth T-B 863268 Pathfinder Games Club (yrs 5-8) 7–8:30pm Court House. The Revd Penny Nash 865217
Thursday	Home Group 8:00pm. Janet & Michael Eller 875466
Friday	Little Fishes Toddlers 9:30-11:30am Court House Christmas – News of a special baby Amey Groves 873662
Saturday	Carol singing on steps of St Peter’s church, for Christian Aid: 10:30am – 12 noon

Future Dates at St Peter’s unless otherwise stated

W 15 Dec 7:30pm	Thomas Coram School Carol Service
Fr 17 Dec 9:30am 12noon	Victoria School Carol and End of Term Service Thomas Coram End of Term Service
St 18 Dec 7:30pm	Cowper Society presents: Berkhamsted Choral Society
Sn 19 Dec 9:30am	Sung Eucharist with Sunday School Nativity
Th 23 Dec 7:30pm	Cowper Society presents: Chiltern Chamber Choir Praetorius Mass for Christmas
Sn 16 Jan 7:00pm	Launch of 30^th Petertide Fair - in the Court House

Notices

THE APPEAL FOR THOMAS CORAM SCHOOL raised a total of £ 1,662.33p, of which £341 is tax reclaimed through Gift Aid. Thank you for your generosity.

§ STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPES Please collect in church during Advent from Miles or Diana Nicolas 871958

§ CHRISTIAN AID. Carol singing outside St Peter's on Saturday 11th December from 10.30-12.00. Do come and join us, to sing and to give to support Christian Aid this Christmas.  Margaret Burbidge tel: 862139

§ DELICIOUS BACON ROLLS on sale again, 8.30am - 11.30am next Sunday, December 12th. The Youth Team with our young people will be working hard to raise money for the furnishing of the Upper Room in the Court House. Please support our young people and come and have your breakfast either before or after church. Suggested donation will be £1.50 per roll but we will accept more!

§ VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED this evening to tidy the town at 7pm this evening, after the Festival of Light. If you can help, please speak to Fr John.

§ THERE IS A CAROL SERVICE in aid of the Hospice of St Francis on Monday 13^th December at 8pm at Sacred Heart Church.

§ CHRISTMAS BELLS APPEAL DECEMBER 2010 The Hospice of St Francis Christmas Bells are on sale at the back of the church after the 9:30am service every Sunday from now till Christmas, to raise funds for the benefit of patients and families supported by the Hospice. Buy one or more, wear them or use them to decorate your Christmas presents. Elinor Mumford 865413 St Peter's Link with the Hospice.

The PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD BOARD is available during Advent. Your card, together with a minimum £10 donation, gift aided if possible, for Petertide causes 2011 (Sunnyside Rural Trust and McCabe Educational Trust) should be directed to Fr John Pritchard at Court House Cottage. Cheques payable to PCC of Great Berkhamsted

§ FROM THE PARISH OFFICE: Please help us to keep up to date. The Parish Christmas cards are going out with an addition this year: we have included a contact sheet with each one giving such details as we have for you, and we would be very grateful if you would take a moment to look through this and inform us of any changes, mistakes or omissions so that we can be sure of contacting you correctly and efficiently in future. If you do not receive a Christmas card please pick one up from the back of church and fill in a form so we can send you one next year! Please return the paper to the Parish Office box at the back of church or the Parish Office post box on the corner of the Courthouse – or you can email us with changes. Thank you!

PEW LEAFLET notices copy-ready & rota swaps by 2pm Wednesday please:
The Parish Office, The Court House, Berkhamsted HP4 2AX
email ChurchOffice@greatberkhamsted.org.uk tel 01442 878227
PARISH OFFICE hours: Monday – Friday 10:00am – 2:00pm

SUNDAY The Second Sunday of Advent 5 December 2010 (8am only)

Collect

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. AMEN

First Reading Isaiah 11:1–10

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply Thanks be to God)

Second Reading Romans 15:4–13

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’;

and again he says,

‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’;

and again,

‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’;

and again Isaiah says,

‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply Thanks be to God)

Gospel Matthew 3:1–12

The Lord be with you

(Reply And also with you)

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

(Reply Glory to you, O Lord)

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord

(Reply Praise to you, O Christ)

Post Communion Prayer

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN